Show Number Two

Show number two was a complete success. I studied the background of the Young Black Scholars program drawing a fine line between hand-out programs and true academic enhancement from programs like YBS. The difference lie in the students potential for success in the college system. These students typically have a GPA of at least 3.0. They must then show an ability to keep up with college preparatory courses on the freshman study level.

In preparation for the show I set up a pre-interview with my guest. I initially scheduled Patricia Rillera the director of the program, to the show. She agreed to come on sending me the link to the programs site. From there I found information on the programs backround and which included, 100 Black Men of Los Angeles. This organization takes on various non-profit ventures and YBS is one of them. After researching the various non-profit organizations, I read the history and statistics of student education on a racial statistical finding. Following 10 hours of research and phone interviews I had the show prepared. I was even able to get an outfit donated to me by Magic Jeans in Long Beach.

I met with Erroll regularly. He constantly challenged me on the questions that I would ask and they way I shaped a central argument. He also suggested that I try interviewing two people. I then requested a second person to accompany the director. She agreed that she could provide a "success story" student into the fold. The day before we shot the show Rillera canceled her appearance with on the show with me by email. She referred the Senior Program Manager Latrice Jordan to come in her place. Antoinette Ball also came along and the interview was a success.

When I first met the ladies it was a bit of warming up in order. I tried to make them comfortable going over the interview questions again with Latrice. She was added just the day before so I had to get her prepped. Since I felt so much pressure with the first show I tried to swing through my intro without any stops and retakes. It wasn't the smoothest, but a heck of a far cry better than the first show. I didn't allow any pressure to get in.

In my meeting with Erroll after the show for my critique, he told me that I do indeed smile too much as my Professor Kingsley said. He said I should also address both guests more evenly. Don't spend too much time on one guest. He also scolded me for not arriving to the studio at am. to rehearse the questions. All and all I learned a lot on this show.

Young Black Scholars (Pre-Production)

On Friday Erroll and I had a meeting to prepare for the next show set to shoot on October 27, 2006. In the meeting he proposed my next task of setting up a meeting with the Executive Director of Student Development, Patricia Rillera. She is over the African American Scholarship program of Southern California. This program is set up to contain scholarship for African-American students for their future educational endeavors. I am so stoked to be interviewing and researching a program such as this one. The main reason that this topic interests me such a great deal is because of the assistance that I received to pay for college, tech school and any other activity that I have sought out in efforts to advance myself.

During the meeting, Erroll gives me tips on how to prepare a good set of talking points for interviewing in-studio guests. This preparation process usually takes about two weeks. First, I have to think of a reason that this topic will be relevant to the viewers of All Sides. Secondly, I have to outline where funding comes from and how it is being affected by budget cuts. Thirdly, I must play the devil's advocate and find out why programs like this one are still needed.

This entire process usually requires at least 5-6 pages of questions, leads, notes, etc. This is one part of reporting that you learn only a little about. I am rarely given contact information on my subjects. Erroll makes that all a part of my job. So in investigating my subjects, my skills as a reporter are strengthening. I get them reeled in no problem, we shoot the show, and then look for the next hot topic.

So I will update you on how hard it was nailing Patricia down, and what I've learned about Scholarship just prior to the show. At that point I'll outline the key points and prepare for a stellar show.

My First Interview on All Sides

Who knew poverty could be so deep...Below are some pictures of myself interviewing Jack Humphrey, the Demographer responsible for tracking ACS Census information for the Southern most part of California. In hindsight, this poverty issue is relevant to most all of us in the Greater Los Angeles Area. Jim's job on the show was to enlighten the viewer on the history of cultural breakdown in the Atlantic corridor of Long Beach.

His maps, although a bit confusing at first, are very detailed in the fact that they revisit historical statistics and explain the shift in cultural movement in So. Cal. The most interesting part of the presentation that I grasped was the concentration of immigrants in the Long Beach area, and how long in fact these immigrant families have been citizens in America. Most of the newer generation immigrants are not in fact illegal nor were their parents.

During my meeting with Erroll he critiqued my segment of the show. I don't know if I was nervous because of the huge build up of information that I had to retain in order to competently converse about the subject of poverty, or if it was Erroll's expectation of me. He did give me tips to be more prepared as it relates to my opening and closing. He said to rehearse it day and night so that anything that needs to be ad-libbed or added can be done smoothly and naturally. Also I think dealing with a subject that is not completely new for me will aid in a successful show.

Enjoy the pics.

Cool Slideshows

My first show for All Sides will tape this Thursday and pre-production is bananas. I am definitley excited and not nervous at all. This show, All Sides, is a public access show that deals with Public Affairs. I enjoy working on this publication because it opens me up to a whole new world. I have not had much experience with public affairs. My whole life has been filled will affairs so I guess things like dealing with poverty, which is what my first show will be about, comes natural.

The City of Long Beach recently ranked 6th in poverty in the nation. These results were compiled from the 2004 Census. With the ACS sampling a new result came that Long Beach wasn't actually 6th in poverty, but 24th. Advocates are saying that the margin of error from small sampling is great and Long Beach may very well still be one of the top cities for poverty. With this being said, they don't want the city to ignore the issue of poverty in a whole.

I will be interviewing a demographer, Jack Humphrey on Thursday's show. Erroll has given me time to become an "expert" on the subject so that I can execute a good interview. My class will be joining us for the taping so this should be fun.